July is definitely ‘bream month’ and Dan Varney is the latest angler to win with the species after catching 35lb on the River Trent at Radcliffe. 

The Drennan and Kamasan Starlets angler drew two pegs away from the downstream end of the match length and caught most of his fish just nine meters out with a flat float.

“I actually got to my peg really late and was still plumbing up when the whistle blew!” he admits.

“I balled it in at 13 meters and kicked off there for a few small fish on a 2g rig and maggots before deciding to have an early look shorter where I had fed two large bait droppers of chopped worm and casters.

“Fishing with an 8g flat float, on the very first drop in I had a nice bream and several more to 4lb followed. I caught best with a big piece of worm on a size 13 Kamasan B711 to 0.15mm Supplex Fluorocarbon and Yellow Carp Bungee elastic in my Acolyte pole.

“I topped up five times during the day and caught in short bursts. The river levels also changed massively during the day, rising 5 inches and then dropping back down again!”

In second place was England star Steve Hemingray with 30lb using similar tactics.

There are open matches on this stretch of the Trent every other Saturday. To book in, contact the Matchman Supplies tackle shop on 0115 914 0210.